Parkview Junior learner raises awareness and funding for tree planting
PARKTOWN NORTH – Caitlyn Young (9) is selling seedlings and raising money for the Parktown North Residents Association's (PNRA) Project Evergreen.
Parkview Junior School learner Caitlyn Young (9) wants to do something to help Parktown North restore their dwindling tree canopy.
She is selling acacia tree seedlings to the public and giving R10 of the proceeds from each tree sold to the Parktown North Residents Association’s (PNRA) Project Evergreen, which aims to re-green the suburb following the destruction caused by the infamous shot hole borer.
Caitlyn explained, “Shot hole borer are 2mm long, 1mm wide beetles that bore into trees, leaving a fungus which kills the trees.”
Her idea germinated when she began picking up pods from a mature acacia tree near her home.
“I split the pods open, take out the seeds and put them in a bowl with boiling water overnight until the outer case swells. Then I put it into cotton wool and put water on them until they sprout,” explained Caitlyn.
Her new business, Small Beginnings, aims to see community members plant trees and contribute to PNRA’s re-greening project.
Caitlyn’s mom Lee Young said if customers wanted to opt to have the R10 from their purchase given to another residents association with a greening programme, Caitlyn would be more than happy to make the necessary contribution.
Lee added that Caitlyn’s idea stemmed from hearing the concerns of residents about losing the tree canopy in the suburb.
“Though a cure has not yet been found, on average, test treatments cost R200 per tree for a chemical fungicide. With almost 900 trees infected by polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) in Parktown North alone, this may prove to be an expensive process,” said Lee.
Chair of PNRA Lee-Ann Louverdis said, “It’s remarkable that at nine, Caitlyn has awareness of the beetle and the destruction it is causing. I want to challenge local schools to create awareness about the borer problem. I am so delighted to see Caitlyn wanting to bring funds back into the community.”
To find out more about purchasing a tree, email smallbeginnings2019@gmail.com or visit the PNRA website on www.parktownnorth.org/pshb
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